What Is The Forté Fellowship Program

With the motto ‘More Women Leading,’ the Forté Foundation supports women in business education and leadership. Here’s what the Forté Fellowship offers—and how it can be secured

Spaces for women in business and business education have increased in recent years, but we still have a long way to go as a society. That’s where the Forté Foundation—a nonprofit dedicated to achieving gender parity at all levels of business—comes in.

After it was revealed that women made up only 28% of MBA cohorts on average, the Forté Foundation was established in 2001 with the aim of increasing the representation of women in business schools, with the hope that it would also help get more women leading in business.

Fast forward to 2025, and the Forté Foundation has awarded $475 million in funding to female MBA students, motivated over 125,000 women to rise up in business, and increased female representation at its partner business schools by 48%—a major milestone.

How has it achieved this? One key way the Forté Foundation has delivered this progress is through its Forté Fellowship program—a scholarship awarded to exceptional female business school students to help fund and support them in their studies.

To find out how more women can attain this prestigious award and take the business world by storm, we’ve delved into the Forté Fellowship program, with insights contributed by the Forté Foundation CEO, Elissa Sangster.

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What is the Forté Fellowship—and why does it matter?

Forté Fellowships are prestigious, competitive awards that are recognized within the business school community and beyond. Forté Fellows exhibit exemplary leadership, represent diverse backgrounds, and demonstrate a commitment to advancing women in business.

Since 2003, Forté has made a significant impact in leveling the playing field for women in business education. By partnering with a variety of schools, they have awarded approximately $475 million in scholarships to over 19,000 fellows.

Who can apply for the Forté Fellowship?

To be eligible for a Forté Fellowship, a student must submit a full-time MBA application to a participating school. These include Alliance Manchester Business School, EDHEC Business School, and HEC Paris. Part-time and executive MBA awards are also available at select institutions.

While each individual school selects its Forté Fellows, Forté encourages them to consider several additional qualifications as part of their selection criteria.

Candidates must exhibit exemplary leadership in one or more of the following areas: academic leadership, team leadership, community leadership, or creative leadership.

They should also represent a range of personal, educational, and professional backgrounds, as well as varied career goals. The Forté Class of 2026 reflects this emphasis on diversity, including Hispanic (9%), Asian/Pacific Islander (21%), and African American (10%) students. There is also considerable variation in undergraduate majors—with only 28% coming from a business background, and the remaining 72% comprising fields such as Engineering (17%), Humanities (10%), and Science (7%).

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate a commitment to Forté’s mission of launching women into fulfilling, impactful careers through access to business education, opportunities, and a supportive community of successful women.

Additional requirements may be set by individual schools, such as alignment with the institution’s mission or core values.

What are some Forté Fellowship benefits?

There is, of course, the financial benefit of becoming a Forté Fellow. The amount awarded varies depending on the school and the program’s initial cost. For example, at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, the fellowship is open to three individuals who can each receive up to £30,000 ($40,000) in funding. Meanwhile, at London Business School, this increases to £45,000 ($61,000)—with the number of awards not being pre-determined.

However, beyond the financial support, the fellowship also offers immediate exposure to leading companies within the Forté network. Program partners include like-minded organizations committed to supporting women in the workplace and advancing female leadership in business. Top examples include GMAT, Her Story Coaching, and Stacy Blackman Consulting.

Forté Fellows also gain the advantage of becoming part of the wider Forté community—including current fellows and alumni—which allows them to build a network beyond their own business school.

Fellows can participate in Forté's MBA Women’s Leadership Conference and the MBA Financial Services Fast Track Conference, giving them the chance to connect with senior executives, attend workshops, and listen to panel discussions led by corporate partners.

In addition, fellows are included in the exclusive Forté Fellows résumé book, which is distributed each fall to Forté’s corporate partners with the aim of helping fellows secure recruitment opportunities at top companies.

Members also receive exclusive invitations to job openings and leadership development programs at Forté partner companies—one of the program’s standout perks.

Other benefits include lifetime access to Forté’s online event series, mentoring opportunities, and access to the private Forté Fellows LinkedIn and Facebook groups, where fellows can connect, share ideas, and support one another.

Elissa from the Forté Foundation emphasizes the transformative power of these community connections: “Attending networking events will help you connect with others, including MBA students. These events provide valuable opportunities to gain insights and connections that can enhance the trajectory of your business school journey and career.”

How does the Forté Fellows selection process work—and how can you stand out?

It’s pretty simple—students should apply to pursue an MBA at a Forté partner business school.

Once they receive admission, they are then considered for all scholarship opportunities available through that institution. From there, the partner schools—specifically, their MBA admission teams—select their Forté Fellows and notify Forté of their chosen candidates.

In most cases, applicants are automatically considered for the Forté Fellowship when they apply to a full-time MBA program, as long as they meet the basic criteria (i.e., applying to a full-time program and identifying as a woman).

Erin Wand from Personal MBA Coach—one of Forté’s leading partners—emphasizes that the strength of your initial MBA application is critical in securing a fellowship:

“Even for targeted scholarships, such as the Forté Foundation Scholarship, admissions committees select recipients based on the quality of the MBA application itself.”

However, some schools may require additional steps as part of their decision-making process. For example, at INSEAD, applicants are asked to respond to essay questions specific to the Forté Fellowship.

“These essays provide an opportunity to tell the story of who you are and what makes you stand out. This could include everything from unique experiences in your life and career to what you can bring to your business school as an MBA student, graduate, and potential Forté Fellow,” says Elissa.

At institutions such as Saïd Business School, preference may also be given to candidates who have taken part in MBALaunch—a Forté Foundation program designed to guide applicants through an intensive eight-month process to help them submit their strongest MBA application.

Additionally, female scholars at Saïd who receive the Saïd Business School Foundation Scholarship will also receive a Forté designation. While this doesn’t include direct funding from Forté, recipients gain access to all non-financial benefits—such as networking events, community access, and recognition from the foundation for their role in empowering women in business.

What options are available for those not selected?

Not everyone will be successful in acquiring the Forté Fellowship—but don’t let this discourage you. In many cases, it simply comes down to the limited number of spaces available.

If you’re still eager to engage with the Forté community and take advantage of its many benefits, there are membership options available. Forté offers Affiliate, Professional, and Premium memberships, with prices ranging from completely free to $250 per year.

These memberships provide access to valuable resources such as job alerts, virtual career fairs, and the Women on Boards Event Series, all designed to support your career growth and keep you connected to a network of inspiring professionals.